Blessed, on this big rock

The fourth of July is a very special time for me, as it is for many others. A time to really celebrate, enjoy each other’s company and be humbled by the sacrifices made in 1776 and the continued sacrifice of men and women today. I remember fondly, my family spending the fourth of July in South Dakota; and while it didn’t work out to do that this year, I am still very blessed. I don’t know if I have posted this before, but I am able to enjoy, and just be happy because their is a God above who loves me, and men and women around me who want to protect me. Happy Fourth of July and God Bless America!

 

There was this big rock that just sat there when I was young.

From a distance, it seemed like a huge boulder, you couldn’t move it, it just sat there.

This rock was on the property of my grandparents, on a lake, in South Dakota.

Things in life were finer there. I don’t mean we were rich in money but rich in the things that mattered. The company we kept and the simple things we did.

There were wood pillars that faced many thunderstorms and ropes that were ripped and fallen. The grass was brittle but it grew like corn. And there was this big rock.

 

It served its purpose well, as the mountain climbing experience for our Barbies and GI Joe’s.

The stove in which we cooked our soup.

A mixture of lake water, a few leaves, weeds…for flavor

Some good size pebbles so we could actually stir something and

of course a sprinkle of gravel.

 

To the left of the rock, depending on where you sat, stood this yellow lanterned man.

His lantern shined dimly from dusk till we noticed it off.

And though the cowbells and leaves continue to cling to him, he was still ours.

 

 

I pause, remembering the past,  I could continue with stories: hearing the fish splash, and disrupting the perfectly still lake.  You would chuckle at our determined attempts to pick every single rock from the gravel road. We would stuff them in our pocket, carry them in our shirts; walking carefully but quickly to the dock. And after all that work, throwing them in with all our might!

I could talk for hours of the many blissful 4th of Julys. Black Cat. Fruit Pizza. Face Paint.   The time I  tired to light the shell, and it almost fired in my ear, or the memorable later laughable time my cousin fell into the lake. I could sing you a few songs from the campfires we had. The time we used cumin instead of cinnamon for the biscuits. My list will go on, and on and continue down the well walked gravel road.

Because being here with all the memories,  good and bad allows me to thank the Lord for how blessed I am. And as long as this big rock sits, year after year, I will hold on tho the memories.  So thank you,  Jesus, I am grateful and I am blessed.

Eyes of Everything

A rough area

stained in bright colors.

Chalk imprinted on

small joints, lead forward

careful and intensely creating a masterpiece.

 

Standing proud, hands on hips

while the elbow, hand and forehead

have pink and yellow and orange smudges.

 

Later,

dirt from falling

after running too hard, and

the grass clippings sticking to

sweaty knees and joints.

 

Only to finally find

defeat in exhaustion.

Droopy eyelashes

slowly dragging feet.

 

Hot summer days

finish best

with sweet dreams.

 

 

 

 

Blessed on this Rock

There was this big rock that just sat there when I was young.
From a distance, it seemed like a hug boulder, you couldn’t move it, it just sat there.
This rock was on the property of my grandparents, on a lake in South Dakota.
Things in life were finer there. I don’t mean we were rich in money, but rich in life and laughter. There were wood pillars that faced many thunderstorms and ropes that were ripped and fallen. The grass was brittle but it grew like corn. And there was this big rock.

It served its purpose well, as the mountain climbing experience for our barbies and GI Joe’s. The stove in which we cooked our soup.

A mixture of lake water, a few leaves, weeds…for flavor
Some good size pebbles so we could actually stir something

! and of course a sprinkle of gravel.

To the left of the rock, depending where you sat, stood this yellow lanterned man. His lantern shined dimly from dusk till we noticed it off.

And though the cowbells and leaves continue to cling to him, he was still ours.

I pause, remembering the past, realizing it’s easier to talk about and it makes me smile. I could continue with stories such as: hearing the fish splash, unexpectedly. Or watching our attempts to haul as many little rocks from the road to the dock, and eventually to the water with a plunk. I could talk for hours of the many blissful 4th of Julys. The time I lit the shell, and it almost fired in my ear, or the memorable later laughable time my cousin fell into the lake. I could sing you a few songs from the campfires we had. The time we used cumin instead of cinnamon for the biscuits. My list will go on, and on and continue down the well walked gravel road.

Because being here with all the memories, good and bad allows me to pounder and thank the Lord for how blessed I am . And as long as this big rock sits and even years later, when the memories get foggy, my God, he won’t. So thank you Jesus, I am grateful and I am blessed.

America!

The sparks of freedom illuminate the sky

A crack of noise to express our joy Independence day is no small fleet

But a grand occasion

celebrated only at it’s greatest.

Decorated from head to toe
Proudly expressing our red, white and blue.
The tears that were shed
from victories long ago
still resonate in our hearts
As we gently remember the freedom given to us

How brave they were
To go into uncharted battles
Not just with guns but with words. Fighting for such a valuable intangible item One that boast in pride
and celebrates in blessing

All that was given
a gift so rare
The giver of life, gives us freedom God, who blesses America

In 1776, July 4th
A new time was born
One that stretched from each fingertip of a person With this new direction
Liberty was born

Happy 4th of July

 

 

*pictured provided by Google Images